Gastroenteritis (better known as the "stomach bug" or "stomach flu") is one of the problems I occasionally get a call about from my patients. Gastroenteritis is unavoidable. Trying to avoid it would be like trying to avoid the rain. We may presume that it has some curious purpose, but we can also agree (I'm sure) that it is something we want to get over as quickly as possible.
When I say, "gastroenteritis," what I am referring to is any syndrome affecting the gut from the stomach to its far end, manifesting with a variety of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. There may be other symptoms, like chills, fever, malaise, or muscle aches and pains.
What's the "cause" of this syndrome? Doctors will variously blame viruses and bacteria for this, but in most cases, the cause is academic (as in, irrelevant).
Why do I say this? Because most cases of gastroenteritis are self-limited, meaning that they resolve on their own. We know that antibiotics are over-used in acute illness, particularly gastroenteritis.
"To do nothing is sometimes a good remedy."
- Hippocrates
Most people over-treat gastroenteritis. They take things that won’t work or are downright harmful. And a lot of them are missing the most beneficial supplements and interventions despite that.
Today, we’re going to cover what actually makes a difference in cases of gastroenteritis.
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